I was talking with one of my close friends last night and she shared about an intensive class that she had just taken on self-discovery. I think that it’s great whenever a practice or teaching helps you to think in new and different ways. I truly think that you can learn something from practically anyone. It was in that same spirit that I agreed to review Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment. (I am a Christian, so I have different convictions than some of the teachings in the book.) However there were several takeaways worth noting…

Let’s start with the areas of agreement. I agree that the mind is powerful – that if you change your mind, then you change your life. Conviction really does lead to action. The authors offer up some interesting scientific insights regarding reprogramming your brain/ mental habits. It was exciting to be reminded that we can create new mental networks even as adults.

I also appreciated the suggested ideas for mental growth. Some were obvious – physical exercise; caloric reduction (30%); DHA (there has been a lot of talk about that lately) and intellectual stimulation (including meditation). Curcumin (which is found in tumeric) was an unexpected recommendation. The authors also talked about therapies for enhanced energy production including hyperbaric oxygen and glutathione, but I’m not that “cutting-edge”.

The neuroscience themes interested me the most. However, the book was not only from a neuroscience angle, but also from a shamanism angle. Unlike the book authors though, I don’t think that enlightenment is really based on biological science. I don’t think that you can remain in a paradisical state by powering up your brain. (Different religions call this state different names. Christians call it heaven.)

The second portion of the book focused on shamanism. The shaman’s gift (Light Body, The Great Perfection, etc.), shamanic exercises and such. Although that section did not appeal to me personally overall, there were a couple of tidbits that I appreciated. I liked the Hippocrates quote in the fasting section: “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” I also took note of the “radical forgiveness” shamanic exercise. Forgiveness is a good practice for all of us!

Anyway, the book ends with a five week program. Although I won’t be following it, I looked through the different components. Each week has diet, fasting, dietary supplements, physical exercise, shamanic exercise, meditation and relationship guidelines. I will be putting into practice one of the ongoing relationship suggestions: “Cultivate relationships with people who uplift and inspire you.”

In any event, I’m going to be passing the review copy of the book on to my friend for her to pick and choose which aspects of it fit her life. If shamanism and/or neuroscience are topics that intrigue you, then take a peek at Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment. (If you do, let me know what you think!) Meanhwile, you can see a brief clip from one of the co-authors Dr. David Perlmutter below:

Since respect in relationships is very important to me, I was eager to review The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success by Deborah Norville. I love the premise of this book: “Want to get the respect you deserve? Try giving it.” Truer words were never spoken/written!

In the book, Deborah covers six areas of respect – at home, in relationships, at school, in business, for leaders and self-respect. I constantly found myself shaking my head in agreement with points that were made throughout the book. It was so refreshing to read (the truth) that respecting and valuing others helps us to be more successful – not less. It is not necessary to be rude and uncivil in order to move ahead in life!

As a mom, I especially enjoyed the “It All Starts At Home” section. The truth is that our children learn to be respectful (or disrespectful) not only by what we say but also by what we do. My husband and I are “loose” on many things when it comes to our kids. We try to avoid extremes. However, there are two things that we are “strict” about – gratitude and respect. The boys can be many things around us … but ingratitude and disrespect are not optional! The part of this chapter that was the most challenging to me personally was the “Ignore the Negative” section. I don’t know if I completely agree with the statement “the best way to eliminate unwanted behavior is to ignore it”. I understand the underlying principle (focus on desired not undesirable behavior), but I think that the application depends on the age/temperament/etc. of the individual child. Having said that, it does make me think more about which battles I pick with my kids (since I already had a “don’t major in the minors” mentality with my husband). Most of all, I liked the reminder to be an example of the behavior that you want to see in those around you.

The other chapters are equally helpful and I highly recommend this book. The book is easy to read. I especially like how central points are boxed in order to stand out and how there are “Respect Reminders” at the end of each section that highlights the main points that were discussed. The one point in the book that challenged me to my core was: “There is no one who doesn’t deserve respect.” Think about that for a moment. That is not to say that everyone’s actions deserve respect. That is not the issue. Rather, it’s the belief that simply based on their existence, our fellow humans deserve to be respected in and of themselves. My emotions fight against that truth when it comes to people, but mentally, I totally agree. Overall, I found this book to be especially refreshing. I think that you will also.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing the review copy of this book.

Michael graduated from pre-k on June 19th. My plan was to give him a two week break and start up with our summer home schooling on July 6th. Well, I’m about 3 weeks behind on the plan! Now, we’re playing catch-up. Fortunately, because I do a variety of parenting writing, I’m often sent a variety of learning materials to review. There are two items that have especially stood out recently. I’m sharing about one of them below. (I’ll be writing about the other on my monthly “Gaming Notes” post on Thursday, since it’s an educational CD game.)

Summer Bridge Activity Workbook (P-K)

I accepted this workbook to review, because I had read a great review about it from a blogger whom I know and respect, Jennifer of 5 Minutes for Books. (Her son and Michael are the same age/stage of life. They were “fast friends” at a past event that we all attended.)

Anyway, the Pre-K to Kindergarten activity book is very helpful. For the most part, I like the layout. There are three different sections. The first and second sections review what the kid (should have) already learned in pre-k and the third section previews what they will be learning in kindergarten. There are also a variety of bonus sections in the workbook as well as an online site with additional material. Since Michael is so goal-oriented (I wonder where he gets that from…), I especially like the included incentive contract calendars and the certificate of completion. Since we’re behind schedule, Michael is doing 2 activity pages four days a week. That’s enough. When my little gamer boy completes the workbook, he has requested (yes, you guessed it) the video game of his choice.

My only concern is that the material in the book doesn’t seem as challenging as Michael’s pre-k work. (Then again, I thought that it was a little too much that the students were expected to “match spoken word to print” at the pre-k level anyway). I think that if I include “sight words” and art projects to the workbook’s daily activities, that Michael will be just fine in September.

(I’m always a little confused though – should I expect him to know all of the pre-k stuff at this point or most of the kindergarten material as well?)

On a side note, if you’re in the NYC area, you can find pre-k expectations in this pdf and on this Early Childhood site. For Kindergarten standards, you’ll have to click through each Academic subject on this page.

I am sent so many books to review that I can only pick a few each month to highlight. Below, are my top three picks for April:

Healthy Child Healthy World – Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan

Christopher Gavigan, the author, is a parent and the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World a nonprofit with the following mission: “We are igniting a movement that inspires parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals”. The nonprofit and the book begin with the premise that at the end of the day, all parents have one simple desire: a happy and healthy child. I agree with that. Since I have been focusing on “green” ideas and such this month, I’ve been amazed by the conversations (both actual and via email) revealing how much moms really are thinking about and trying to make little changes day by day to make their home environments safer for their kids.

This book will help. At the beginning, it shares some facts about environmental exposures that can be disconcerting (i.e. about cancer, asthma, autism, etc.). For the most part though, the book is upbeat and user friendly. It includes expert opinions, tips to making a series of minor but significant changes, and “Parentblog” sections where various parents share what they’re doing in order to create non-toxic homes and to safeguard their families. What I especially like is that the book addresses every step of development – from preparing for baby to their food, toys, clothing, etc. when they are older. Advice for adults (i.e. cleaning, beauty products, etc.) and even pets (“raising a green pet”) is also included in this valuable book.

I Brake for Meltdowns: How to Handle the Most Exasperating Behavior of your 2- to 5-Year-Old by Michelle Nicholasen and Barbara O’Neal

I like that this book starts with the premise that every child has meltdowns of various types. I think that helps moms to approach the various topics in an empowered manner. (Sometimes parenting authors can make you feel like there’s something wrong with you when your kid acts up!) Written in a straightforward, parent-friendly way, this book is full of practical tips for what to do when your kid encounters a variety of situations. The major areas covered are: (public and private) meltdowns, lack of social graces (i.e. regarding speaking to and playing with others), sleep issues, eating challenges, potty training, fighting, anger; manipulation, travel issues, health and hygiene, annoying refusals and some other random issues. Whew – that’s a lot! Fortunately, it’s broken down by chapter and topic, so that you can easily go back and get input on whatever issue you’re tackling at the moment.

Personally, I think that every kid is different and acts out in different ways – even within the same families. For instance, my older son Michael is relatively mild-natured. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him have a fall-out in the floor, kicking tantrum. So, when Sean did the falling out in the floor/yelling/screaming/etc., I literally thought something was wrong with him. I’m not using the term lightly, but I feared that he had autism or something, because his emotions were so intense and he was unresponsive to my attempts to calm him. (In my mind, I used to joke that if Sean ever had a full meltdown tantrum in public, I’d walk away and act like I was looking for his “real” mom.) Fortunately, that phase only lasted for a few months, but it’s reassuring to read that your kid is normal even when they’re yelling on the floor like a banshee. From the tone of this book, it’s obvious that the authors of this book are mothers themselves. Michelle has five kids and her co-author Barbara (a mother and grandmother) is the director of a preschool in the Boston area. As a mother, I recommend this book. It’s is very helpful and I intend to keep it as part of my parenting resources library.

The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home by Terra Wellington

There are a lot of decisions to make in regards to “going green”. This book will help moms to make some of those choices regarding what is best for their families and the environment. The author, Terra Wellington, is a mom of three who covers information about healthy living and the environment on her blog MomsAndThePlanet.com.

I like books that help you to take away practical steps that you can apply to your daily life. This is one of them. Each chapter covers a specific green topic: energy; water and lighting; ways to green the various rooms in your house; cleaning; gardening; being a green consumer (food, clothing, etc.); transportation and play; being green in the workplace; and doing something to make your larger community greener. There are action plans, benefits to making the various suggested changes, how-to advice and checklists throughout. On a visual note, I like how the author uses the color green to highlight especially important “chunks” of text. It gives the eye a nice break. Anyway, back to the content – this is an easy to apply guide filled with hundreds of green tips. There’s something for everyone to start doing their part in saving the earth!

(To see what others are reading, visit What’s on Your Nightstand.)

Back in February, our charitable focus of the month highlighted that heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women in the United States. Sara Lee is also concerned about heart disease. That is why they are partnering with The Heart Truth Campaign to raise awareness of this issue and to encourage women to make heart healthy food choices. To support the campaign, Sara Lee Fresh Bakery is offering heart healthy sandwich recipes (using their nutritious breads) in the WomenHeart’s “All Heart Family Cookbook”. They will contribute one dollar for every cookbook ordered up to $35,000 to the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

I had a chance to review the cookbook and it’s definitely worth adding to your library. Not only does it share 40 of the top “heart healthy” foods, but it also includes 175 healthy (and relatively easy to prepare) meal recipes. As such, I’m excited that Sara Lee is giving away a copy of the cookbook to three Mom in the City readers.

On a healthy dessert note, try out Sara Lee’s easy, seasonal “Pound Cake Flower Power” recipe below:

POUND CAKE FLOWER POWER
Makes 7-9 flowers

Ingredients
2 Sara Lee Pound Cakes
3 varieties of assorted fresh fruits
(Oranges, strawberries and star fruit shown)
1 pound bag of green grapes
1 large egg white
1 1/3 cups sifted powder sugar
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
2-3 drops assorted food coloring
1 bag wooden skewers
1/2” – 2” wide assorted sizes of flower and round shaped cookie cutters
1 decorative flower pot or basket and floral foam to hold skewers in place

Method
1. Trim the top, bottom and sides of the pound cake just enough to remove the golden brown pieces. Slice the trimmed pound cake in half horizontally making it into two even, approximately 1” thick, sheets.
2. Press the flower cookie cutters into the sheets to form flowers.
3. To make the frosting, in a mixer add 1 egg white, 1 1/3 cups sifted powder sugar and 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract on medium setting until firm and can maintain stiff peaks. Mix 2-3 drops of food coloring into the white frosting to turn desired color. Spread frosting onto the top and sides of each flower and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Place in freezer to set at least one hour before sliding onto skewers.
4. Fill flowering pot with foam and position each flower in pot at varying heights.
5. Cut oranges into wedges and fold back half of the peel. Curl fold around finger and slide onto skewer. Position at varying heights in bouquet.
6. Slice star fruit and slide onto skewer. Position between flowers.
7. Arrange grapes at base of flower pot.

To win one of the three cookbooks, please tell me one “heart healthy” food choice that you have made lately in the “Comments” section below by April 30th.

(To see other contests & giveaways around the web, visit Contesting Monday or Contest Monday.)

Recently, I received Welcome, Little One the newest title in Sandra Magsamen’s award-winning baby book series. Even though my sons are 2 and 5, I thoroughly enjoyed going through this book with them page by page. It made me reminisce on their new baby days.

My boys liked taking the trip down memory lane with me. I think that little babies will enjoy the book even more. There are several types of animals (baby elephants, pint-sized giraffes, tiny chicks, etc) to point out as well as interactive elements (touch-and-feels, pop-ups, a musical sound chip, and more).

The great part is that we will be hosting a special “Welcome Little One Baby Gift Set” giveaway for five (5) lucky Mom in the City readers!

One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a pack (valued at = $149.88) including:
• 2 Baby Outfits from Sandra’s clothing line “Messages from the Heart”
• 1 copy of Welcome, Little One
• 1 copy of Peek-a-boo, I Love You
• 1 copy of Baby Love
• 1 copy of My Blanket
• 1 copy of Little Blossom
• 1 copy of Goodnight, Little One
• 1 copy of Butterfly Kisses
• 1 copy of Love Bug
• 1 copy of Bedtime Bunny
• 1 copy of Little Angel

Four (4) runner-up winners receive a copy of the new book, Welcome, Little One.

To enter this special giveaway, please tell me your favorite thing about new babies (their smell, their soft skin, etc.) in the “Comments” section below by April 30th.

Below are a few that we’ve read lately…

-I’d Like the Goo-Gen-Heim by A. C. Hollingsworth
The Guggenheim Museum recently released this children’s book. (Actually, it is a reprint of the 1970 book by the late A. C. Hollingsworth an artist and teacher.) The hardcover picture book is about a kid’s trip to the Guggenheim Museum. While visiting the city, Andy’s father falls asleep in Central Park (bad dad!). Following his balloon, Andy ends up in the Guggenheim (the Goo-Gen-Heim). While there, he enjoys the architecture of the museum as well as the various works of art. This book is the first part of the new GuggenheimKids product line that will be launched in May.


-Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis
I wasn’t familiar with the imaginative Ladybug Girl (Lulu). In this book, Lulu plays at her favorite playground with her friend Sam (Bumblebee Boy). Initially, they can’t agree on what to play together until they decide to play superheroes. After, they go around the park coming up with scenarios where they need to work together in order to save others (Lulu’s dog, the playground “and probably the whole town”.)


-llama llama misses mama by Anna Dewdney
The bestselling “llama llama” line of books is already popular at our home. This new title is no exception. In it, Llama starts school. Llama is shy, lonely and sad. He misses Mama Llama. After learning and playing various things with his teacher and new friends, Llama learns that he loves both his mama and school. (This book would be especially great for kids starting new schools or activities.)

I’ve been reading a lot of parenting books lately. Below are a couple of my favorites…

the birth to five book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start by Brenda Nixon

This book covers a variety of parenting topics in a calm, reassuring tone. It is broken down into four parenting time frames: infant, toddler, preschooler and anytime. The author is not a medical professional. Rather, she is a parent, writer and speaker. As such, her advice reads like what one (educated, informed) mom would share with another. It’s valuable information, but it’s easy to understand.

I think that the greatest aspect of this book is that Ms. Nixon empowers parents by helping readers to see that there is a wide range of “normal” in kids. I also like that she includes a variety of topics that aren’t necessarily found in non-specialized parenting guides (i.e. “growing a reader”, teaching self-esteem, outdoor safety, and “raising responsible kids”). At the end of each section, the author sets the reader up to win by leaving them with “Success Strategies” that they fill in for themselves For example, in the childproofing section, the success strategy is “To ensure my baby’s safety and my peace of mind, today I’m going to …” This book would make a great addition to any Mom in the City reader’s library!

The Parent Trip by Jenna McCarthy

This book is a trip! The author is very funny and honest. I like that she doesn’t claim to be an expert. (She’s from a journalism, not medical background.) Rather, she simply shares about her personal reality from the time that her maternal instincts kicked in up until considering having a second child. The book pretty much covers the whole gamut of emotions and situations that many expectant and new moms experience. The “trip tips” at the end of each chapter are especially thought provoking in a humorous way. One of my favorites is “(make a list of) Expecting non-water-retaining celebrities with only one chin and delicate ankles who don’t even look pregnant from the back that I fantasize about kidnapping and forcing to eat sixteen triple-fudge sundaes”.

I also admire the fact that Ms. McCarthy shares the various parenting decisions that she made (i.e. breastfeeding, variations of the “cry it out” sleep method, child care, etc.) without making judgments on moms who choose different paths. Although some of my parenting choices have been different than hers, I could appreciate her thought process. Several times while reading the book, I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I remembered similar joys (and frustrations!) while raising my two sons. I truly believe that as moms (of young kids anyway) that we all have much more in common than not. This book just reconfirms that thought. I definitely recommend this for new and expectant moms. It’s an informative yet entertaining read which can be especially great since (let’s admit it) some parenting books can be a bit “dry”.

(To read about what others are reading this month, visit What’s on Your Nightstand.)

*The books mentioned above were sent to me for review purposes.*

I have two great problem-solving books that I was sent this month:

the no-cry nap solution

I was familiar with the author (Elizabeth Pantley) of this book, because I used some of the principles from her no-cry sleep solution book with Michael. Honestly, naps aren’t a big struggle around my household. Both of my sons have their own unique sleep rhythm (i.e. I know that the best time for Sean to have his nap is 5 and ½ hours after he wakes up.). This book is a great resource though if you’re having nap challenges at your home.

The book is primarily written to teach parents how to help children (newborn to around age 6) nap on a consistent basis. Research facts to stress the importance of napping are presented. Tips to help kids nap at various ages are included; nap challenges are discussed and various worksheets are included to help parents come up with a great plan. For parents of older children, I especially like the “hush hour” concept. (Basically, it’s a time for the child to be still and quiet if they’re in the process of or have outgrown their daily nap.) It’s funny, we were implementing this process in my home (we call it “quiet time”) every since Michael outgrew his nap. It’s very helpful (for the child…and mom!) Overall, this book provides some really great practical advice. If your child needs but is resisting a nap, the tips will probably be able to help you.

teach yourself: feeding your toddler

I definitely needed this book. It has been such a challenge getting Sean to eat – period. I love that the premise of this book by Judy More, a pediatric dietician and founder of the Child Nutrition consultancy, is that parents can enjoy feeding their toddlers and be confident that they are feeding them well.

Not only does the book tell what nutrients your toddlers need, but it also provides practical trips regarding what to do (and not to do) in regards to feeding them. The biggest “don’t” that I had to change was using certain foods as “rewards” for eating others. (It makes the “treat” seem more desirable.) I was also intrigued to read that all toddlers need vitamin supplements with vitamin A and D in them, especially toddlers with darker skins. (Did you know that toddlers of color don’t make vitamin D in their skins as efficiently as white toddlers?!) Recipes and dealing with special situations (i.e. vegetarian toddlers) are also covered. I can’t say that this book has solved all of our food challenges, but it has (at least) left me a lot more hopeful. That’s no small thing!

(To read about what others are reading this month, visit What’s on Your Nightstand.)

I have been sent so many books to read lately that I’m breaking down my “What’s On My Nightstand” posts into two segments this month. (The next one will be on Tuesday 2/24.) Today, I’ll be reviewing Scream Free Parenting by Hal Runkel and Parenting is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry & Guilt by Leslie Leyland Fields.

Scream Free Parenting by Hal Runkel

Right now, my husband and I are focusing on the way we speak in our home. We don’t have big arguments or call each other or the kids mean names or anything like that. Rather, I raise my voice when I get excited (in a positive or negative) way. I can also have an annoyed tone when I don’t feel like being bothered. As we all know, it’s not just what we say, but how we say it. We’ve figured out a fun way to help us both grow in the way we speak. We have to pay a quarter each time that we speak in an unloving manner. A quarter doesn’t seem like much, but we’re both very competitive people by nature…neither one of us want to be on “the list”. (In addition to the quarter, we keep a sheet with the reason why the person had to give the quarter.) It has really helped me to see my “patterns”. Overall, I tend to lose my cool when I don’t feel like my husband or kids are acting “appropriate” to the situation. For me, knowing that helps me to choose my reaction better when such situations arise. We have this running joke (based on The Incredible Hulk movie) where we chart the number of days since our last (speech violation)”incident”. I’m happy to say that’s it been a few weeks since my last “incident”. I really believe that what you focus on changes!

It’s interesting that I was sent the Scream Free Parenting book after we had started our own little family system. It’s a really great resource. The first part focuses on parents dealing with their own issues so that they can control themselves/calm themselves down. In essence, parents are called to grow up and be the calming authority in their homes. The second part focuses on creating boundaries and space for everyone (adults and kids!). It encourages parents to have a mental image of what they’d like to see happen while simultaneously not getting caught up in the results aspect of the vision. It also talks about the importance of kids having their own separate space (not necessarily physical) outside of their parents. I especially like the point that they make in this section about labeling kids. (Be careful!) Part three is about setting the emotional tone of the family’s interactions, letting children experience the consequences of their decisions; and being consistent in disciplining. [The line “empty threats are really broken promises” really resonated for some reason. Although I’m pretty consistent with following through on what I say to my kids, just to think that each time I don’t is really a lie…whoa!)] The last section of the book focuses on parents loving themselves better so that they can love their families better. It’s the shift to a “put on your own oxygen mask first” mentality. Overall, this is a great book with some helpful, practical advice. If applied, I believe that they could help change the relationship dynamics in many families.

Parenting is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry & Guilt by Leslie Leyland Fields

(Please note that this book has references to faith/God but its themes and topics are of interest to parents/families of all walks of life.)

I really like that this book addresses the guilt and insecurity surrounding parenting that many Christians are reluctant to discuss by sharing about the following 9 parenting myths.

1. Having Children Makes You Happy and Fulfilled (Not necessarily – that’s not their purpose in our lives.)

2. Nurturing Your Children is Natural and Instinctive (Not always – many times it’s a hard choice!)

3. Parenting Is Your Highest Calling (It is not. Our relationship with God is our highest calling.)

4. Good Parenting Leads to Happy Children (No one is happy all of the time. Don’t confuse your hopes for your children with hopes for yourself!)

5. If You Find Parenting Difficult, You Must Not Be Following the Right Plan (Not necessarily – there is no perfect plan/formula. You have to rely on God)

6. You Represent Jesus to Your Children (We can’t be Jesus. We can only need Him.)

7. You Will Always Feel Unconditional Love for Your Children (Not! Love causes a range of emotions)

8. Successful Parents Produce Godly Children (God is in control. Don’t make it so much about ourselves.)

9. God Approves of Only One Family Design (There are no “perfect” families on earth.)